Friday, February 10, 2017

Going Grey: An Update

My sweet friend, Marylynn, wrote to ask me how the process of going grey was working for me. The question came at the perfect time, as I was finally ready to cut off the old color!

As some of you may remember, I made the decision last summer in this post to stop coloring my hair and let it go grey naturally. I am turning fifty this month, and I considered it a birthday present to myself.


The process took some time. For a few months, I used a semi-permanent color to blend the old color with the new roots. Then last fall, I stopped using all dyes completely. As you can see, there wasn't a terrible "skunk" line of demarcation between the old and new color. I think Sandy called the effect "ombre". I like it, Sandy!


It looked a little bit like summer color meets winter color. It didn't bother me too much. Once a week or so, I would use a purple shampoo like Clairol's Shimmer Lights to tone down any brassiness.


Here you can see lots of silver sparkly strands, as well as two or three inches of natural color. The smooth, straight haircut didn't do a very good job of blending it all in, though.

I was ready to cut off the old color and see what God and the natural process had in store for me.


And here is the new 'do. Sassy!


The layers do a much better job of blending the silver strands in with my natural color. If I didn't know better, I'd think that my hair looks like it has been highlighted! Lots of dark and light colors mixed together. Natural. I couldn't have done that myself. Thanks, God!


The short 'do comes at the perfect time, too. My husband and I are planning on taking Sam to Florida at the end of the month! This hair cut will be fast, easy, and fun to style. I see funky hair bands and dangling earrings in my future!


Going grey is a personal decision. If the thought would have made me feel sad about the aging process, then I probably would not have done it. I want to be the woman that embraces this stage of life with a good attitude. I want to be healthy and happy, with a kicky, quirky, sassy frame of mind and a cute wardrobe to match. LOL!

I've never been the sort of person that clings to youth. Some of my favorite women are those seasoned silver sisters of the church. I look up to them so much, and I appreciate their models of wisdom and beauty.

Five decades on this planet. It's hard to believe. I've been blessed. Those silver strands will multiply, just like blessings. I'm choosing to call them God's highlights.

Blessings to you, cafe friends!

13 comments:

  1. It looks great Mary Rose! I am humbled and grateful when other ladies at church look at my hair and say it's beautiful! All those silver strands are not so bad after all! I see that you are embracing it gracefully!!

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    1. Hoping my hair will look as beautiful as yours one day, Sandy!

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  2. Looks great! I think you have fewer grays than me, and I'm 10 years younger. :)

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    1. It's the haircuT, Tammy. It does a better job of hiding them. And thanks for the tip to use semi-permanent to get me through those first months. It helped!

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    2. Glad to hear it was a help! :)

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  3. Love the new hairdo! I'm right behind you (46) and like you 'I want to be healthy and happy, with a kicky, quirky, sassy frame of mind and a cute wardrobe to match.' Here's to God's highlights and lots of life in our years!

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  4. Mom was talking you up last night so I stopped in to see for myself. Cute haircut! But as for grays?! I don't see any... notta. You must be looking in the wrong mirror. Xo. I'll see for myself soon enough. Yea!!!

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    1. Trust me, there's a lot of silver sparkle in there! Can't wait to see you all this weekend! Let's plan a sisters night out!

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  5. Looks really good, I don't grey. Love the cut. I am 51, so right there with you on the aging thing- where did the time go! I am not yet brave enough to see my natural color! Hugs to you.

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    1. Thanks, Tracy! Like I said, it's a personal decision. I just needed one less thing to fuss over in my life. I'm cutting my morning prep time in half these days, and it's great to be able to wash, fluff and go!

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  6. Bravo for you! Cute haircut, too. I stopped coloring my hair 4 years ago and haven't regretted it. My dad passed his "premature gray" genes on to me so when I stopped coloring it went silver overnight! Arlene_C (SCS)

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